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Sumburgh · Historical
Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement
At Jarlshof, early houses, an Iron Age broch, wheelhouses and Norse remains sit close together. It is a short outdoor visit through more than 4,000 years of Shetland settlement, best for school-age children who enjoy looking around real ruins.
- Best ages
- Curious school-age children and older
- Entry
- Paid · family options
- Weather
- Mostly outdoors
- Allow
- Around an hour
Our family take
Children who like history can see how homes changed over centuries without a long walk between sites. The Explorer Quiz gives them clues to look for, and there is an audio guide for families who want more of the story. It will be harder going with a toddler who needs a buggy, play space or a quick toilet break.
- Ground and steps. The approach has a steep ramp and grass, and parts of the ruins have uneven steps and low entrances. A buggy may limit what you can see.
- Toilets and lunch. There are no toilets on site, and the listed lunch closure is 12.30–1.30pm. Make a toilet stop and check your visit time before travelling.
The practical details
Plan your visit
- Opening and lunch
- 1 Apr–30 Sep: daily 9.30am–5pm (last entry 4.30pm). 1 Oct–31 Mar: Tue–Sat 10am–4pm (last entry 3pm), except 25 Dec–4 Jan when closed. Lunch closure 12.30–1.30pm. Check for changes.
- Tickets
- Paid entry with family, member and Explorer Pass options. Book online for the best standard price and choose a visit time; compare current options for your group.
- Toilets and food
- No toilets on site; HES names Sumburgh Airport as the nearest adapted toilet. It lists a shop and water refill but no café, so plan food elsewhere.
- Ground and steps
- A steep ramp and 150m grass approach lead to gravel and bound-stone paths. Some buildings have narrow, low entrances or uneven steps. A buggy may limit the visit.
- Getting there
- Use Sumburgh Hotel’s gravel car park within your allocated timeslot, or take bus 6 or 6E and walk from the hotel stop. Check current bus times.
- Allow
- Around an hour for most families; take longer if you use the Explorer Quiz or audio guide.
ParkingGift shopExplorer QuizHistoric RuinsVisitor CentreWater Bottle Refill
26 September 2026
Check Jarlshof tickets and times (official)A little more detail
Make it work for your family
What children will see
Among the remains are early houses, an Iron Age broch, wheelhouses, Norse longhouses and a later laird’s house. The visit centres on looking around the archaeology rather than hands-on exhibits.
If your child likes a task, open the HES Explorer Quiz before you arrive. It asks them to look for features such as house shapes, quern stones and the wheelhouse. HES also lists an audio guide for families who want more of the story.
Explore Jarlshof on HES · Checked 2026-09-26
Ground and buggy reality
Sturdy shoes help on the grass and uneven stonework. If you are bringing a buggy or using a mobility aid, expect to miss some parts; the narrow entrances and steps make the route difficult. Think about the return as well as the way in.
With a toddler who is likely to need carrying, keep this as a short stop. Children old enough to walk carefully and enjoy the ruins will get more from it.
Check HES access details · Checked 2026-09-26
- Approach to the ruins
- From the car park, expect a steep 8m ramp and about 150m along a wide grass drive before the level gravel path.
- Inside the remains
- Paths include gravel, bound stone and level changes. Some Iron Age entrances are low and about 50cm wide; the wheelhouse has very uneven steps without a handrail, and the laird’s house has a metal spiral stair.
Tickets, lunch and facilities
Make a toilet stop before entering, especially with younger children. There are no toilets at Jarlshof, and HES names Sumburgh Airport as the nearest adapted toilet. Baby-changing facilities are not confirmed, so ask HES if you need them.
The HES facilities list includes a visitor centre, shop and water refill, but no café. Arrange lunch before or after Jarlshof rather than counting on food at the site. Its listed 12.30–1.30pm lunch closure also makes a midday arrival awkward.
Booking online gives the best standard ticket price. HES lists family tickets, member tickets and Explorer Pass visits too; compare the options for your group and check the current opening and closure notice before making the trip.
Check current HES visitor information · Checked 2026-09-26
Arriving and pairing another stop
If you are coming by bus and pairing Jarlshof with another stop, check your return service before you set off. If you drive, leave time to get back to the hotel car park within your allocated visit slot.
Sumburgh Head is the natural second stop for lighthouse views and wildlife. Treat it as a separate visit. Shetland’s published circular walk from Jarlshof is 6km and graded moderate to challenging, so it is a choice for confident walkers rather than the default route with young children or a buggy.
Check the Jarlshof to Sumburgh walk · Checked 2026-09-26
- By bus
- HES lists buses 6 and 6E from Lerwick to Grutness, taking about an hour. Jarlshof is a short walk from the Sumburgh Hotel bus stop; check the current timetable.
- By car
- Visitors can use the level gravel Sumburgh Hotel car park. HES says you cannot remain parked after your allocated visit timeslot.
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Nearby stop
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Visitor Centre & Nature Reserve
Visit Jarlshof for archaeology, then Sumburgh Head for lighthouse views, seabirds and seasonal indoor displays. The published coastal walk is long and demanding, so plan transport if younger children or a buggy are coming too.
Nearby stop
St Ninian's Isle Tombolo
A sandy beach stop with an optional walk towards the chapel. Check the crossing conditions and use Bigton toilets before heading down.